Pressure-hose coupling



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, i 1,550,850 J. M. TOWLE PRESSURE HOSE CoUPLxNG Filed Mrch 2, 1921 2 sheets-snee#I 1 Aug. 25, 1925. u 1,550,850 J. M. TOWLE PRESSURE HSE COUPLING Filed March 2, i921 2 sheetssheet 2 y WMe/g om.

t ,r /if my Patented Aug. 25, W2.

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JAMES M. TOWLE, OF WEST SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUIS I. BECKWTH, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

A j PRESSURE-HOSE COUPLNG.

Application filed March 2, 1921. Serial' No. 449,132. l" i A T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES M. Towne, a citizen of the United States, and resident of West Somerville, in 'the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in Pressure-Hose Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hose couplings and more particularly to couplings for use with hose for transmitting fluid under high pressure.

In coupling devices for use in connecting such hose, as for example lire hose, or air hose used in the operation of pneumatic tools, it is desirable to provide automati cally acting valve means for shutting off the flow of fluid from the supply simule taneously with the disconnection of the cou-- pling elements. As such shut-olf valves are usually subjected to the full pressure of the fluid in the supply pipe, it is often found extremely diliicult to reconnect the coupling elements, as in order to do so it is `first necessary to bring the pants together with suliicient force to move the valve back against the supply pressure and then to hold the parts together while manipulating the interlocking elements of the coupling. This difficulty in manipulation is a serious source of annoyance to the user of such couplings as the air pressures employed may reach six hundred pounds per square inch, and when valves an inch or more in diameter are employed, the force necessary for opening them is relatively large. The principal object of the present invention is to provide for overcoming the above noted difficulty in the use of devices of the character referred to. To this end it is proposed to provide a coupling, in which, by the simple rotation of a part, the coupling member may first be locked together and the valve may simultaneously or subsequently be opened. A preferred means for accomplishing this result may comprise the provision of a rotatable sleeve upon one of said coupling members, such sleeve and member being provided respectively with interengaging cam elements serving upon rotation of said sleeve to impart relative longitudinal movement to the coupling member. The sleeve may also be provided with elements which may, upon rotation, be interlocked with corresponding elements of the other coupling member whereby to prevent separation of such sleeve and member, one of said members serving to house the slidable valve. The interlocking elements of the sleeve and coupling member may if desired comprise radial, internal lugs carried by the sleeve, engageable with circumferential ribs projecting` from the coupling` member.

-Stop means may be employed if desired to limit the rotation of the sleeve.

In the connection of coupling members, it sometimes occurs, particularly when the user is in haste, as in the connection of lire hose, that the members are wrongly engaged whereby their proper connection is rendered impossible with attendant loss of time and annoyance to the user. In accordance with the present invention irt is desired to make such improper engagement of the members impossible, and to this end the interlocking lugs and ribs of the rotatable sleeve and coupling may be so arranged as to prevent interengagement thereof except in one and the proper relative presentation of the parts. Such lugs and ribs may also be so arranged as to provide engaging surfaces symmetrically arranged as respects the anis of the coupling whereby any tendency of the parts rto rock or assume positions at an angle to such axis is avoided.

When couplings are employed in connecting high pressure hose, difficulty is commonly experienced in avoiding leakage at the joint. A further object of the present invention is to overcome this difficulty and to insure a tight joint at the coupling. As one mode of attaining this result the coupling may compose a double seat, that is to say, the two coupling members may be provided with interengaging seat surfaces, and the movable valve member may also be arranged to seat closely against a surface of the opposed coupling member. Thus the fluid must pass both seats in leaking through the coupling joint whereby substantial leak age is eliminated.

As pressure hose is frequently used in long lengths and in situations where it is liable to become twisted or kinked, there is always danger that the torsional strain eX- erted at a coupling will be suiicient to disconnect the coupling members. A further object of this invention is to provide against such contingency, and for this purpose it is proposed 'to provide the cooperating coupling members with complemental engaging elements which, irrespective of the position of the locking sleeve, serve to prevent relative rotation of the coupling members. Such complemental members may if desired take the form of a radial lug or lugs projecting from one of said members and engageable with a longitudinal slot or slots in the other thereof.

As it is often desirable to connect lengths of hose of dierent diameters, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention so to construct the coupling` members as Ito permit their ready interchangeability for others having hose connections of different diameters, and for this purpose it is proposed to furnish coupling elements ffor both the supply and delivery ends of the hose having hose connections of various ciameters.

In the use of air under high pressure, as for driving pneumatic tools.` trouble is frequently occasioned by reason of the collection of water condensed from the air. Such water interferes with the proper operations of the tools lthemselves and when the pipes are exposed to low temperature may freeze, resulting in serious damage to tools or pipes. Thile it has been proposed to interpose separating devices at intervals in the pipe lines for removing the water, this is not always feasible, as such devices are frequently of a size and weight such as to render them practically immovable and they are thus often omitted from hose lines although their function is a very necessary one. A further object of. the present invention is to provide a water separator of a forni such as to permit its employment at any desired point and particularly at the dead end of a hose where water is likely to collect. To this end it is proposed to incorporate a water separator in the coupling itself and more especially in that one of the coupling members which terminates the supply pipe or hose and which would commonly be provided with a shut-off valve. Such separator may take the form of a casing forming a continuation of the coupling member and having properly arranged baille plates and drainage channels together with a dischargel cock or valve. 1f desired the baille plates may comprise spirally arranged members or overlapping plates or combinations thereof, such plates draining into grooves which may if desired be arranged as illustrated in the co-pending application of J. M. Towle, Serial No. 366,593, i'iled March 17, 1920.

A preferred embodiment of means for carrying the present invention into effect is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a coupling made in accordance with the present invention showing the coupling elements @Onnectedv Fig. 2 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1, but showing the connecting member in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail illustrating one of the coupling members shown in Fig. 2 but from the diametrically opposite side.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4L is a side elevation of a valve member employed in connection with the coupling.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation, and Fig. (3 a side elevation of one of the separable coupling members.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation, and Fig. 8 a side elevation of the other of said coupling members.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation, and Fig. 10 a side elevation of the adjustable connector member employed.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal cross-section similar in general to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modified form of the device.

Fig. 12 is an elevation taken from the right-hand end of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a transverse cross-section on the line e-Z) of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a similar cross-section on the line c-ci of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-section illustrating a modified arrangement for the right hand portieri of the device shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 1G is a side elevation partly in crosssection and to smaller scale illustrating a further modi iication of the device.

is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the coupling device comprises a pair of separable coupling members, indicated generally at 1, 2, respectively, having projecting from opposite ends thereof hose attaching elements 3, et. These hose attaching' elements may as usual be in the form of short tubes ribbed or corrugated upon their exterior surfaces for the attachment of a hose thereto. The coupling member 2 isY of substantially cylindrical form having an interior longitudinal bore 5, and provided upon its exterior surface with a cam member preferably in the form of a helical rib 6. This rib may take the form of a heavy screw-thread extending along a substantial portion of the coupling mem-ber but provided at a point intermediate its length with a gap detined by the surfaces 7, 8 respectively, such gap being of substantially a semi-circumference in extent. The cam member 6 terminates short of thc end of the coupling member thus providing a substantially cylindrical portion 2a. This portion terminates' in an exterior end surface 9 which may be of curved section if desired, and in an interior end surface 10 forming a. seat for a valve memberl hereinafter described. At points substantially dimetrically opposite, lugs 11, 12, are arranged lll) to project from the surface of the portion 2L of the coupling member 2. The coupling member thus described is preferably that to which the delivery end ot the hose is attached, while to the coupling meniber 1 is secured the supply end of the hose.

The coupling member 1, as herein shown, comprises a cylindrical portion 13 having a bore 14 and an externally screw threaded flange 15 projecting from its end. The flange 15 has threaded engagement with a flange 16 formed upon a cap member 16a. The hose connection 3 is shown as formed integrally with this cap, but it desired might be made as a separate element and suitably attached thereto. 1Within the flanges 15, 16 is formed a chamber 17 having a shoulder 18 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Both the members 13 and 16a are preferably provided with nut elements such as 19, 20, respectively, for engagement by a Wrench whereby such parts may be secured. together firmly, these parts in the normal operation ot the coupling being inseparable. 21 is a cylindrical valve member slidable within the bore in the member 13, such valve member comprising a head 22 provided, it desired, with a slot 23 tor engagement by a screw driver. By means ot this slot the valve member may be turned manually tor grinding the valve seat it it should become worn or eroded.

The valve member 21 is hollow, and leading through the walls thereof are a series of ports 24. The head 23 has a beveled outer Jface 25 for engagement with a seat surface 26 formed upon the member 13. When resting upon this seat the valve serves to close communication between the supply pipe and the outlet end of the coupling member 1, the iiuid pressure upon the top ot the valve being sufficient to firmly .seat the valve in closed position. The member 13 is also provided with an annular seat 28 tor engagement by the surface 9, above described, at the end of the coupling member 2. The seat surface 28 and the surface 9, when the coupling members are secured together, cooperate to form a tight joint between such members. The valve member 21 is provided at its extremity with an exterior beveled face 27, such face cooperating with the seat 10 ot the coupling member 2 to form a closed joint therebetween. Thus when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, a tight joint is formed both between the latter and the coupling member 1, so that any probability of leakage through the coupling is substantially eliminated.

The outer end of the member 13 is provided with a bore of a larger diameter, as in dicated at 29, for the reception of the cylindrical portion 2LL of the coupling member 2. The outer portion ot the member 13 is also provided with diametrically disposed slots 30, 31 respectively, upon its interior surface, such slots serving tor the reception of the lugs 11, 12 respectively of the coupling member 2. When the coupling members are ar ranged in cooperative relation with the lugs 11, 12 engaging the slots 30, 31 respectively, it is manifestly impossible to impart any relative rotational movement to such coupling members, the lugs and slots thus serving as locking means to prevent any such annular movement.

Upon the outer surface ot the member 13, adjacent its outer extremity, are provided a pair of circumferential ribs 32, 33, these ribs being .spaced apart in an axial direction, as indicated in Fig. 8. The rib 32 is provided with a gap 34 (Fig. 2) andthe rib 33 with the corresponding gap 35, such gaps being in aligmnent andv of substantially equal width. At a point diametrically opposite the gap 34 the rib 32 is provided with a second gap 36 of substantially greater circumferential length than the gap 34. lf desired, one end wall ot the gaps 35 and 36 respectively may be formed as beveled .surfaces such as 35, 36EL respectively.

The means for locking the'coupling members together consists ot a connector in the form oi a sleeve 37. This sleeve may, it desired, beprovidedat onel end with an integral nut 38 for the application ot a wrench thereto in tightening the coupling. Upon the interior of thelsleeve 37 is formed a helical rib Vor cam member 39 comprising a screw thread of substantially the same pitch as that ot the thread 6, such cam member engaging with the rib 6 oi the couplingmember 2. At 4() is indicated a stop screw passing through a suitable threaded opening in the sleeve 37, and engageabie with the ends 7, 8 ot the separated portions of rib 6, whereby such stop screw serves to limit the rotational movement of the sleeve 37 relative to the coupling member 2. Near its outer extremity, as indicated in Fig. 2, the sleeve 37 is provided with a bore 41 ot enlarged diameter for the reception ot the end portion of the member 13 ot the coupling` 1. A. pair of lugs 42, 43 project inwardly from the surface of the bore 41, said lugs being spaced apart in an axial direction and being arranged substantially diametrically oppon site one another (see Figs. 9 and 10). The lugs 42, 43 are of different circumferential lengths, corresponding substantially to the widths of the gaps 36 and 34 in the rib 32, abvefdescribed.

In the modified* iorm ot the device illustrated in Fig. 11,-the coupling member 2 and associated parts is substantially iden tical with that previously described. The member 13 ot the coupling member 1 is also substantially like that described, as also the valve member 21. in place ot the cap member 16a, however, there is substituted an elongated cylindrical casing 15, havingscrew threaded engagement with the flange 15. This casing' at its right-hand extremity, as seen in Fig'. 11, may be provided With an extension 15b having' an integrally threaded bore 15c for the attaclunent of a supply pipe. ln a preferred form, however as indicated in 15, the casing 15a may terminate in a portion provided with an integral hose connection 3a of substantially the type illustrated in Fig'. 1. Upon the interior of the casing 15 are provided a plurality of loneitudinal grooves such as 50, 51, and 53, respectively, and a second of grooves such as 55, of subst: itially spiral or helical form. A. series of overlapping baffle plates 5P, 57 are also provided, such baille plates evtendinn` outnf'ardly from opposite sides of the casing` and providing' between them a tortuous passage for the air. lf desired, such overlapping plates may at one portion of the casing be replaced by a spiral baille plate 5S which may or may not be continuous from end to end as desired. rlhc several grooves above emunerated terminate at. the right-hand end of the casing, as seen in Fi 11, in a chamber 59 which communicates vith a chamber GO formed in a boss 60@L projecting` from one side of the casing near its end. fr drain cock 61 having' a handle G2 may be secured in a suitable opening in the boss GOa whereby moisture collecting' in the chan'iber (30 may be drained tl'ierefrom.

ln the form of device shoivn in Fig. 16, the casingl 15 is replaced by a I.gjenerally similar casing' TO but havinginstead of a single hose connection as 3, divergent portions 71, 72 terminatine` in supply-hose connecting' elements 74:, 75, respectively. The casing YO may be secured as by means similar to that illustrated in Fig. 11, and herein indicated generally at 79, to a single dischargehose connecting' element 78.

ln the normal operation of the device shovvn in Figs. 1 to 10, respectively, and with the coupling' members separated, it being' understood that the hose connection 3 is attached to an air-n'essure line, the valve member 21 Will be seated, due to the air pressure upon its head, with the surface 25 engaging the surface 26. The coupling member 2 will now be brought int-o alignment with the coupling` member 1. 1n bringing these parts into eng'apjeinent it is necessary that the lug` 43 be brought opposite the gap 341 in the rib 32, and thus the proper initial position of the coupling members is assured. rllhe sleeve 37 is now pushed axially over the member 13, the lug' 13 passing' successively through the gaps 311, 35 While the lug' L1-2 pases through the gap 36. Upon a slight rotation of the sleeve 87 relative to the member 82, the lugs 42, 13 are carried respectively over the inclined surfaces 35a, 36"L and behind the ribs 33, 32,

respectively. As thus positioned, it is evident that the coupling` elements are retained against separation in an axial direction. Vl`he sleeve 37 is now further rotated to the extent permitted by the stop screw 410. During such rotation, as the lug Ll2 lies between the ribs 32, 33, it is evident that there can be no substantial relative movement in an axial direction of the coupling member l. and the sleeve 37. The engaging` cam elements 6 and 39 thus serve forcibly to dravf the coupling member 2 inwardly and into engagement With the coupling` member i. Such inward movement brings the seat 10 into engagement with the surface 2T of the valve 21, thus readily pushing the valve open against the fluid pressure in the supply hose even when the pressure is of the order of 600 pounds per square inch, and the val vc be an inch or more in diameter. The provision of the shoulder 1S serves however, under all conditions of use to prevent dropping of the valve 21 from the bore 14.. The normal movement of the valve 21 to fully opened position is relatively slight, and by reason of the screw like arrangement of the cam members 6 and 39, it is relatively easy to secure the necessary force for unseating' the valve. llVhen the valve has been fully unseated the surface 9 of the coupling' meniber 2 is brought into firm engagement with the seat 28 of the coupling member 1, and thus as above described, leakage between the parts is avoided.

By the provision of lugs 42, 43 upon opposite sides of the sleeve 37 it is possible to secure opposed bearings against the outer surface of the coupling` member 13, and thus any tendency of the parts to rock about the longitudinal axis of the device is substantially eliminated. .lt is also clear that the engagement of the lugs 11, 12 with the slots 30, 31 serve to prevent angular rotation of the coupling' members relative to one another, even thoug'h the sleeve 37 should not be tightened to its fullest extent so that lzinls in the hose line are ineffective to unlock the tivo coupling' elements.

1n the commercial production of the de,n vice shown herein it is proposed to provide coupling elements such as 1, 2 With hose attaching' means for securing' thereto hose of different dia'aeters, and thus by merely interchangingv one or the other of the coupling elen'ients for a similar element having a hose-attaching means of a different diameter it Will be readily possible to secure io- ;z'ether lengths of hose of differentI diameters.

Referring to the device of Fig. 11, the operation of the coupling is substantially as above described, but in order to eliminate Water which may be condensed in the pipe-line er hose, the coupling has been provided With a separator device consisting' of the casing 15l and associated parts. With this arrangement any water condensed in the supply hose will be caught by the baiiie plates in the casing 15a, and caused to flow into the channels formed by the various grooves described. Such an arrangement of parts for eliminating condensed water is extremely efficient in use as has been pointed out in the co-pending application of James M. Towle, filed March 17, 1920, Serial No. 366,593 in which a condensing device of generally similar type has been disclosed. 1n the present device, however, wherein the condenser has been arranged to form a part of the hose coupling, it is evident that such condenser may be employed at any desired point in a. pipe-line and without substantially atlecting the freedom of movement of such pipe-line from place to place. Water condensed in the casing 15a may be drained therefrom through the drain cock 6l and in the ordinary use of the device such drain coclr would be opened for a short period prior to the attachment of a line of hose by means of the coupling elements and thus any tendency to drive condensed water through the attached hose and into the air operated tool is prevented.

Having thus described the invention in a preferred embodiment of the same, together with the mode of use thereof, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A hose coupling comprising a pair of separable members, a sleeve mounted upon one of said members, interengaging helical cam elements upon the opposed surfaces of said sleeve and its coupling member, and means for limiting the angular movement of said sleeve.

2. A coupling member comprising a` sleeve having a circumferential outstanding rib adjacent its extremity, a second circumferential rib spaced axially from said outer rib, said ribs having aligned gaps therein, and said outer rib having a second gap of greater circumferential length than its iirst named gap and diametrically opposed thereto.

8. A coupling device including a pair of interiitting coupling members having interlocking parts to prevent their relative rotation and a sleeve member enclosing the interfitting joint of the coupling members, one of the coupling members having circumferentially extending guides and the other of the coupling members having helical cam portions, and the sleeve having interiorly projecting portions respectively engaging the guides and cam for drawing the parts together. j

4f. In a coupling device, a coupling member having an interrupted helical cam portion and a connector sleeve having inward projections cooperating with the cam portion and an additional projection engageable in the space formed by interruption of rotatably l the cam, said latter projection limiting` t-he relative movement of the sleeve and coupling' member.

5. A coupling device comprising a pair of cylindrical coupling members, one of said members having an enlarged bore and the other having a reduced terminal portion fitting the bore, said bore and reduced portion having interengaged slot and lug portions Jfor locking; the parts against relative rotation, one of the coupling'members having an outwardly proj ecting inclined cam rib and the other having a non-inclined projecting peripheral rib, and a coupling sleeve having a portion interlocking with the inclined cam rib and a portion interengaged with the peripheral. rib fory securing and drawing the parts together.

6. A coupling device comprising a pair of cylindrical coupling members, one of said members having an enlarged bore and the other having al reduced terminal portion fitting the bore, said bore and reduced poi'- tion having interengaged slots and lug portions for locking the parts against relative rotation, one of the coupling members having an outwardly projecting inclined cam rib, and the other having a non-.inclined projecting peripheral rib, and a coupling sleeve having a portion interlocking with the inclined cam rib and a portion interengaged with the peripheral rib for securing and drawing the parts together, and means securing the sleeve to one of the parts for rotative .movement relative thereto.

7. A coupling device comprising a pair of cylindrical coupling' members, one of said members having an enlarged bore and the other having a reduced terminal portion fitting the bore, said bore and reduced portion having interengaged slot and lug portions for locking the partsngainst relative rotation, one of the coupling members having an outwardly projecting inclined cam rib and the other having a noninclined pro-` jecting peripheral rib, and a coupling sleeve having a portion interlocking with the inclined cam rib and a portion interengaged with the peripheral rib for securing and drawing the parts together, and means securing the sleeve to one of the parts for limited rotative movement relative thereto.

8. A coupling device including a pair of cylindrical coupling members, one of said members having an enlarged terminal bore, said member having radial outwardly eX- tending ribs, the other coupling member having a portion for interlitting engagement with the enlarged bore of the first and having outwardly extending cam ribs and a connector sleeve secured on the second coupling member for limited rotation relative thereto, said sleeve having portions cooperating with the cam rib of the second coupling member and having invvardly extending lugs for engagement with the ribs ot the other coupling meml'rer, the in'terl'itting e? msion ot the second coupling member ha ing projecting lug portions and the lirst coupline' member having grooves in the walls oi? its bore to receive said lugs and having exterior slots through its cam ribs to receive the lugs ot the connector sleeve` whereby the` parts may be longitudinally brought into interlitting engagement, and the litting of the lugs in the grooves Will hold the coupling members against relative rotation vfhile the engagement of the lugs on the sleeve With the ribs will connect the sleeve ifor rotation relative to the parts, substantially as and tor the purpose described.

9. L device et 'the class described comprising cooperating coupling members, one olr said members having an axially extending slot and the other a lug engaging 'he slot to prevent relative rotation ot.' the parts, a sleeve having threaded ei ement With one coupling member, meanz or limiting relative rotation of the sleeve and coupling members to less than a rull revolution, a radial rib upon the second coupling member, and means carried by the sleeve and engageable With the rib to prevent relative axial movement o't the sleeve and the second. coupling member.

l0. A device ot the class described comprising cooperating` couplingl members, an automatic shut-oil valve carried by one oil said members, a sleeve having threaded engagement with the second coupling member, means limiting relative rotation of the sleeve aud its coupling, a circmuterentially extend.- ingl locking element carried by the valved coupling member, and a cooperating locking` element carried the sleeve and engageable with the l'irst element by successive axial and rotational movements.

l1. A device of the class described comprising a pair of eomplemental coupling members, an automatic shut-oft valve carried by one ot said members, a sleeve having l a circum'terential rib upon the tirst zjiliug member having a passage through which the lug may be passed by relative axial movement or the sleeve and rib, the lug' being constructed and arranged to be positioned behind the rib to prevent axial separation or' the sleeve and rib, and means operative upon rotation or the sleeve relative to the coupling upon which it is mounted to draiv an element ot said coupling into engagement 'with the valve to open the latter.

l2. n device et the class described comprising a pair ot' complemental coupling members, an automatic shut-off valve carried by one ot said members, a sleeve arranged to rotate relatively to one of said coupling members but restrained against axial movement relatively thereto when the couplings are connected, and means interposed bet'vveen the sleeve and the second coupling member consV ucted and arranged to move said couplings' toward each other upon relative rotation et the sleeve and the seeond coupling member thereby to engage the latter coupling vvith the valve and open the latter.

.l5-3. A device or the class described comprising a pair of coupling members, one et said members having an automatic normally closed shut-off valve, a rotary sleeve mounted upon one of the coupling members, means limiting movement o'l the sleeve to less than a complete rotation, means carried by the sleeve engageable with a circumferentially extending element of one coupling member to prevent relative axial. movement of the latter and the sleeve, and intcrengaging helical cam elements carried by the sleeve and the other coupling member Whereby upon rotation ot the sleeve the coupling members are drawn toward each other and the valve opened.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass., this 19th day or' February, 1921.

JAMES M. TOVVLE.

a uur. 

